The american accent

I live in northern virginia, and I'm used to speaking what I think's called an american/midwestern accent. From my point of view, it seems as if there is no accent at all, and other accents from around the world or within the country seem to have twists on them, while my accent seems flat.

Now, what I would like to know, is if this flat accent is really flat, or is it just flat from my point of view because I've grown up with it. Does everyone view their own accent as flat, or is this an anomaly with the midwestern/US accent?

Originally posted by JMX Everybody thinks their "accent" is flat, and everybody else's "warped".

We were taught British English (received pronunciation, aka BBC English), and I guess the rest of Europe too, so all Americans speak with an "accent".

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Yes - I think everybody in Europe hears BBC English as neutral and all Americans have very pronounced accents. As soon as an American opens their mouth, anywhere in Europe it is immediately obvious that they come from North America - although most people wouldn't know which part - they would know they are not English!!

I visited Russia when it was still very much Communist and I was with a group of young British people and we were treated very well. Welcomed and even given preference over locals, everywhere.

But we met some Americans in Moscow and they didn't look that different to us - Levis and T-shirts, but they mentioned how they had been very badly treated even by Police. Turned off buses and even struck with truncheons/batons.

But the only way the people could have told was from their accents - like on a bus - and English accent was accepted, but American was a reason to be loathed.

Funnily enough - we also discovered (by accident)a black market trade in records - and the most desired - highest prices - were of course all American!! One stall-owner really treasured a Neil Sedaka single as a prized possession!

Whereas recordings of great Russian orchestras playing Tchaikovsky etc. were very cheap and I bought several home!!

Originally posted by Bruce Lindfield As soon as an American opens their mouth, anywhere in Europe it is immediately obvious that they come from North America - although most people wouldn't know which part - they would know they are not English!!

I can usually tell where someone comes from (within the States) by their accents. Hell, here in Pennsylvania, they're different from one end of the state to the other! To some extent I can differentiate between where individuals whose second language is English learn from. I can tell that my German instructor from a few semesters ago and a Pakistani gentleman I used to work with learned the English language from Britons...

Originally posted by Rick Blanc Hint: If they sound stoopid then they're from the south.

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Does that explain George Bush? That would be very useful for us, as he is visiting us this week - maybe the Police could explain that it's just his accent, to the hundreds of thousands of anti-war protestors on the streets!!

Well consider that most automated messages, commercials, and other nation-wide recordings of voice have the "no-accent" Midwestern accent. I mean, the voicemail for Uncle Billy's Rib Shack in TX might have the southern twang to it, (Do people still say "twang"?) but call national level businesses and you'll hear no identifiable accent. Which is the midwestern accent.

Or listen to those infomercials (You know, with the blue screen at the end- "Send check or money order for three cassettes or two CDs"), those have midwestern speaking people as well.

I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the original post, but I always found it interesting.

JMX, you beat me to it! That story was just on the radio about an hour ago.

Everyone feels that they speak correctly, but that's just human nature.

I think I sound just fine when I speak, but when I hear my recorded voice played back after I leave a message on someone's machine, I think, "My God what a horribly thick New York accent I have!" What am I supposed to sound like?

For example: I say the word, "There," as "Dere" No TH at all. I say "Dollar," as "Doll-a" No R at all. And yes, I say, "Stoooped," not stupid.

I once read that for as big as The U.S.is, there are only about 5 regional accents here.

Now, a serious question: Why do so many non-Americans sound like Americans when they sing? Not always, but more often than not.

On a side note: I saw Canadian Genesis cover band The Musical Box 2 weeks ago. The singer recited the same texts Peter Gabriel used to do and tried to make it sound British - the impression I got was instant Monty Python.